14 Great Lakes Around Southern Wisconsin
The South Central region of Wisconsin is blessed with a variety of lakes, topographies, and native environments, from wetlands, marshes to prairies and deciduous forests and expansive farm land. Some were created in the 19th century by Western European settlers using the power of water for milling. And today it these towns that developed around the shores of our great lakes that really make Southern Wisconsin a day trip or weekend getaway all year round. One of the area's more unique features is the Yahara Chain-of-Lakes which includes Lake Mendota at the northern end of the chain to Lake Monona, Mud Lake, Lake Kegonsa and Lake Waubesa.
Southern Wisconsin is lake country, it's forested, it's farm country with bit of city living too.
There are so many worthy destinations nearby for your perfect vacation memories. It is just a matter of choosing the kind of activity you want or setting you want to stay in. Southern Wisconsin's lakes are beautiful any
time of year or day.
Camping Lakeside
Southern Wisconsin lakes also offer the camping lifestyle great options around the region lakeside, from county parks, state parks to well-known private resort destinations. Most offer shower facilities, plug in electricity, fire pits, and shelters. The Lakes Edition guide is your portable go to for area camping sites too.
OUR PICKS
In no particular order or ranking here are some of Southern Wisconsin's best
locations for a day trip, fishing and great camping.
Gibbs Lake
9103 W Gibbs Lake Rd, Edgerton
While many of Southern Wisconsin's lakes are hemmed in by residential development, Gibbs Lake in Rock County is not. There are a few houses set back from the shores of Gibbs, but the majority of the lake's edge and its' smaller twin, Little Gibbs Lake are quietly ringed by a diverse mix of deciduous woods, open prairie and wetlands thanks to Gibbs Lake County Park. Read more
Phone:
(608) 224-3730
Lake Delavan
11600 So. County Rd. H, Delavan
The Ho-Chunk called the current named Delavan Lake kag-chunk-er-rah or "turtle," while the Potawatomi referred to the body of water as "Wau-be-shaw-bess" or "Swan Lake." Located in scenic Walworth County, Delavan Lake is about a 20 minute drive to Lake Geneva with the town of William's Bay (on Geneva Lake) being the halfway point. Delavan's lake namesake is not nearly as well-known as the Chicago vacationer destination, Geneva Lake, but Delavan Lake Lawn Resort is one of the more prominent all-inclusive, vacationer destinations in Walworth County. Read more
Phone:
(608)-751-1551
Clear Lake
2 W. Main Street, Madison
This tiny, popular Southern Wisconsin, lake, originally named "Prairie Du Lac" by early French traders, features a healthy largemouth bass population with trophy-sized potential. A gem of a getaway, remote but just ten minutes from Storr's Lake and downtown Milton.
Phone: (608) 266 - 0382
Lake Leota and Leonard Leota Park
5 Antes Drive, Evansville
Another great park in our area listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), this green space mostly created by the WPA program is a backdrop wonderland. Walk around
the park before settling on one location. There are so many settings to choose. There is an old stone bell tower, the large dam on the western edge of the park. There is a covered bridge, lagoon, fairy tail looking stone moats a stone arch bridge as well as a gazebo. And if that is not enough for options there is always Lake Leota as a great backup backdrop. Read More
Phone: (608) 882 -2266
Lake Monona
One John Nolen Drive, Madison
Overlooking Lake Monona, Madison's second most ionic building offers choice backdrops for any future bride and groom. The view from the Monona Terrace rooftop facing south overlooks the wide blue expanse of Lake Monona, while the northern side features a fountain and the looming domed presence of the Wisconsin's state capitol. And true to Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect of Monona Terrace, the building has an amazing exterior aesthetic of curvilinear forms and off white massing great for pattern, scale or shape backdrops.
Phone: (608) 261 - 4000
Whitewater Lake
County E and Golf Course Road NW of Brodhead
Whitewater Lake of the lakes featured in Lakes Edition is perhaps blessed with the most dynamic natural setting of any body water in Southern Wisconsin. The forested edges of the lake are the southern reaches of the Kettle Moraine State Forest (KMSF) the largest state park area in our region. The body of water no doubt began its' existence geologically as a Round Lake during glacial period of the Badger State. Read more
Lake Koshkonong
440 N. Jackson St., Janesville
Did you know Lake Koshkonong is not a true lake but flooded marshland? In 1851, Western European settlers to the area built the first Indianford dam which eventually created the lake visible today. Imagine what the first inhabitants in the area saw and experienced. prior to the damming of the marsh area. The Woodland Indians and later the Ho-Chunk built read more
Phone: (608) 756-4509 ext. 305
Lake Kegonsa And Yahara River Trail
Lake Kegonsa is the southern-most lake in the Yahara River chain of lakes formed when debris was left by a retreating glacier 12,000-15,000 years ago. The name Kegonsa is attributed to the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Indians who once lived in this area. Kegonsa means "Lake of Many Fishes." The lake is home to one county and one state park. Located on the northeast corner of the lake is Lake Kegonsa State Park read more.
Lake Mendota Governor Nelson State Park Beach
The most studied lake in the world, Lake Mendota is the birthplace of Liminology, or study of fresh water. This often overlooked state park is close to Madison, situated on Lake Mendota's northern shore. The beach and parking lot for humans (not dogs) is at the terminus of the park's main access drive. Excluding possibly Geneva Lake, the beach at Governor Nelson State Park is the largest beach in Southern Wisconsin comparable to even some of those found on our nearest Great Lake. There are so many photo shoot options here. The beach faces south but there is also the potential for southwestern shots as well. Start simple a barefoot bride and groom carrying their dress shoes. There are also restroom and shelter facilities nearby.
Please check the Wisconsin DNR website for update information regarding water quality issues.
Phone: (608) 831 3005
Rock Lake
State Road 59 and Hwy 138, Cooksville
Shrouded in mystery Rock Lake has captivated budding archaeologists and locals for decades. What were these mysterious pyramidal forms at the lake's bottom?
Were these stone forms, manmade, and part of an ancient trade route that linked Mexico to Cahokia, Illinois and nearby Aztalan, now Aztalan State Park? Read More
Lake Ripley
Unlike many of our region's lakes, Lake Ripley is a natural, glacial kettle lake formed more than 12,000 years ago. The DNR has designated the lake as a "Priority Lake" meaning it is considered an outstanding natural resource and needing protection and long term management. Lake Ripley's fragile aquatic ecosystem is being taxed by the ever growing presence of invasive species such as the water hyacinth, water foil and more. Melinda Myers, noted gardener, expert guest on WPR, and writer speaks to the read more
Phone: (608)-752-3885
Storrs Lake
The famed underground railroad stop, Milton House is just one of many reasons to visit the historic city of Milton. There is of course the historic district of Milton College and don't forget the Milton Spring Fling, and great new locally owned boutiques like Barn Door Studio. But at the end of the day or just beginning one at sunrise Storr's Lake on the city's edge is just a three minute drive from the iconic Milton House on Storr's Lake Road read more
Phone: (608)-752-3885
Lake Waubesa
1455 Palmer Drive, McFarland
Bordered on the west by the city of Madison and on the east by the town of McFarland, Lake Waubesa is a lake of cultural contrasts. Heading north to south from Lake Mendota, Waubesa is the third in the chain of lakes connected by the Yahara River, and long ago resort destination attracting vacationers regionally and as far away as Chicago
Today, Lake Waubesa is a place for sports fisherman, beach goers, bird watches and public gre
Phone: (608)-752-3885
Lake Belle View
Like numerous 19th century Wisconsin towns Belleville positioned its' economy around agriculture. And as many burgeoning villages dammed a nearby stream to create a mill pond for milling,
Lake Belle View was born out of essentially a mill pond. But unlike other dammed rivers, the people of Belleville decided to free the nearby Sugar River from the legacy of milling and create an entirely new separate but contiguous body of water, Lake Belle View. The engineering feat required to create a independent lake was controversial as the dam is still very much intact. But today the lake solely exists fed by a clear running cold spring. read more
Phone: (608)-752-3885
